The BBC Trust today criticised the performance of BBC1, BBC2 and BBC4 in its interim conclusions of a review of the three networks' service licences.

Daytime output on BBC1 and BBC2 attracted particularly scathing criticism, with the trust saying the BBC had fallen short of audience expectations and calling for more "quality and ambition".

Public consultation showed that some viewers felt BBC daytime had too many of the type of shows characterised by the trust as "'collectible hunting' and property".

These include Car Booty, Bargain Hunt, Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is, Homes Under the Hammer, To Buy or Not to Buy and Cash in the Attic.

The trust said: "One of the strongest themes from our public consultation is that some viewers believe parts of our schedules on each channel lack quality and have become too weighted towards long-running factual entertainment strands with similar formats and covering similar subject areas, characterised as 'collectible hunting' and property. "The trust said it would ask BBC management to improve daytime programming and report back in the autumn.

BBC1 generally should more "ambitious and distinctive", according to the trust. The BBC's flagship TV network was also criticised for offering a narrower range of output in peaktime.

The number of "unique programme titles" between 7pm and 9pm had fallen by around half since 2005, the trust said. BBC1 should also take more "creative risks" in the 9pm slot.

"The biggest single issue for audiences is that there is not programming which is 'fresh and new' to meet their expectations," the BBC Trust said.

BBC2 should be more distinctive in order "provide a clearer alternative to BBC1", even if this resulted in lower audiences, the trust added. But it recognised BBC management had begun to implement changes that would achieve this goal for BBC2.

Similar criticism was levelled at BBC4 and the trust said it would work with management to create a new remit for the digital channel.

The trust also said the BBC should provide more "prominent and high quality investigative and analytical current affairs" across the schedule.

The BBC1 controller, Jay Hunt, said: "As the trust acknowledges, we have worked hard on BBC1 to bring viewers the very best bold and ambitious drama and factual programming at 9pm, and a real range of exciting and diverse shows between 7pm and 9pm. With dramas ranging from Five Daughters through to Criminal Justice, and factual programmes covering areas as diverse as modern art, science, immigration and homelessness to name but a few, I welcome the trust's comments and look forward to continuing to take the channel even further for viewers."

Jana Bennett, the BBC's director of television, added: "In these reviews the trust has acknowledged the excellent work that the BBC's television channels are already doing to lead the way in delivering fresh, new and distinctive programming for UK audiences. There is always more we can do and I am pleased that the plans we have outlined in our submissions have been endorsed by the trust."

A BBC spokesman defended the corporation's daytime output. He said that compared with other broadcasters, "BBC daytime is the only place where there is investment in original programming, including drama."

He pointed to Moving On, Jimmy McGovern's award-winning series set in Liverpool, and the period drama Land Girls, which will shortly return to BBC1, as examples of outstanding daytime content.

A new series, The Indian Doctor, a drama about a medic from the subcontinent who arrives to work in Britain as a GP in the 1960s, will also debut in BBC daytime shortly.

Responding to the BBC Trust's criticism in its review of BBC1 and BBC2's service licence of "collectible hunting" shows, the spokesman said that did not necessarily mean programmes such as Cash in the Attic, Car Booty, Bargain Hunt and To Buy or Not to Buy would no longer be screened. "We need to see what that means for the schedule," he added.

The BBC also defended its current affairs output. "Since 2008, current affairs and consumer programmes have risen from 80 to almost 200 hour per year", the spokesman said.

He added that two current affairs series - Crimewatch Roadshow and The Estate We're In - had received critical acclaim.

The spokesman listed a number of peaktime programmes that he said demonstrated BBC1's commitment to commission new and innovative shows, including the dramas Small Island and Five Daughters.

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